From The "matthew Effect" Of Higher Education Balanced Development

"Nature's motion decreases those who have more than they need, and increases those who need more than they have. It is not so with Man. Man decreases those who need more than they have, and increases those who have more than they need." This sentences is quoted from an ancient Chinese philosophic book "Taoism" wrote by Lao Zi. In other words, the nature chases for the balance of all the creatures. However, human society is easily to break up into different parts. So it is that the rich gets much richer, and the poor gets much poorer. We called this phenomenon as "Matthew Effect". American sociologist Robert K. Merton coined the term, which Wikipedia explains as follows: eminent scientists will often get more credit than a comparatively unknown researcher even if their work is similar; it also means that credit will usually be given to researchers who are already famous: for example, a prize will almost always be awarded to the most senior researcher involved in a project, even if all the work was done by a graduate student. The term is based on this biblical quotation: "For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath."As a sociologic theory, Matthew Effect is widely applied into every field of our society after Robert ? Merton first raised this term. In higher education, Matthew Effect also exists. In the next few years, the situation may get worse and worse. I try to study the unbalance development of higher education in china. I hope it will have certain references to the higher education development in china in the future.This thesis mainly has four parts: In the first part, I have explained the origin of the term "Matthew Effect" and its original meaning. In the second part, I have demonstrated "Mathew Effect" phenomenon in higher education. In the third part, I have given the main causes of unbalance development of higher education, including economic, political and social reasons. In the forth part, I expect to analysis Matthew Effect from positive and negative two aspects and search for its advantages and disadvantages in higher education development. Therefore, we must treat the unbalanced development of higher education with scientific attitude and put forth corresponding solutions.Matthew effect has its active and negative influence. At the early time of market economy, it has active effect in social development. As the society developed, its negative effect gradually emerged and took the main role in higher education development. Matthew effect contains accumulate effect and winner-take-all. Matthew effect gives positive but also negative influence to the development of education. We must encourage their positive actions and restrict their negative ones.